“
I know. I
’
m trying for us, Silas. I want to give you a baby!
”
Everlae yelled, her voice breaking.
“
Those women you have been bringing to your bed have not been helping either!
”
I gasped the same moment I heard Everlae drop to the ground as if she
’
d been thrown. My hand over my mouth, I glanced inside the room and started to hyperventilate a little at the sight of Everlae
’
s bruising. She didn
’
t look up from the floor as she cried silently to herself.
I had to do something.
Silas shouted,
“
Who are you
to question what I do with wome
n?
”
He was preparing to kick her when I stepped into the room.
“
Don
’
t you dare!
”
Tears streamed down my face
and I found it hard to see through
them
. Silas just stood there
staring at me, a smile on his lips and a soul as wicked as Hades himself
. I ran over to Everlae and picked her
up from
the floor
,
and glanced over at the bed now covered in blood. Everlae
’
s eyes widened at me and she tried to push me away, but I wouldn
’
t let her. I turned back to Silas, my
body emanating with anger
.
“
You
did this to her. Don
’
t you ever touch her again!
”
I pulled Everlae out of the room and the sound of Silas still throwing stuff around the room echoed behind us.
“
Echo, no,
”
Ever mumbled.
I shook my head and held her tighter.
“
You should have told me.
”
Minutes later, after calling in a maid for help and locking my doors, Everlae peeled out of her bloodied nightgown and
stepped into the hot bath
. We sat in silence as I bathed her, but somehow I knew Everlae
wasn
’
t really here anymore. Her eyes stared at absolutely nothing as she sat there, her face expressionless and cold. I decided to leave her in
the tub
longer, seeing as she didn
’
t want to be bothered, and sat on the marbled floor beside
her
. I ran my fingers through her blonde curls and bit back my sobs.
Finally
,
she said,
“
His name was Dicean.
”
There was no emotion
in her tone
, but I knew it hurt her to say it in that tense.
“
He was only seven weeks old, but I loved him already.
”
She cried harder and I tried to shush her, but it only made it worse.
“
I
’
m so sorry, Ever.
”
I rested my head against hers and sniffled.
“
How long?
”
“
Two years,
”
she answered.
“
Two years and you haven
’
t told me? Ever, Father needs—
”
“
No!
”
She sat up and glared at me.
“
Father mustn
’
t know. It
’
s my fault anyway.
”
I was appalled.
“
Your fault? Everlae, do you hear yourself? The man, who is supposed to love you for all eternity, abuses you and you blame it on yourself?
”
“
I cannot give him what he wants!
”
Ever yelled. The maid peeked in from the corner and Ever settled down.
“
He
’
s been with oth
er women, Echo. Especially one
with tattoos and dark hair. If I cannot give him an heir within the year, it will continue like this. So
,
this is partially my fault.
”
I shook my head in disbelief and averted my eyes.
“
Has it ever occurred to you that you are infertile because of
him
?
”
“
I
’
m not infertile, Echo,
”
she whispered. I glanced back at her with heavy-lidded eyes.
“
I can bear a baby.
But w
e argue so much and he loses his temper so often that
…
”
“
He takes it out on you,
”
I finished.
“
And that
’
s the life you want to live? Have you even told Mother?
”
Everlae looked down at the water she lay in and frowned.
“
She knows.
”
“
And she does nothing to stop it?
”
I stood to my feet and backed away from the tub, running my fingers through my hair as if that could help me get the words out.
“
No,
that
’
s disturbing!
”
“
She has tried! She has even mentioned to Father that I should leave the city with Aunt Janelle and Isobeli for a while.
”
“
And?
”
I asked.
“
And he said my duty i
s here. With my husband.
”
I sighed and glanced around the room, looking for
something to hold onto while the
room started to spin.
“
And Mother will do anything to please Father. Even obey his every will.
”
Feeling utterly disgusted, I headed for the door.
“
I have somewhere to be. The maid will fix up my room and shall help you with everything you need. My bed is welcomed to you.
”
“
Echo, wait!
”
Everlae said. I didn
’
t turn, but listened for her next words.
“
It isn
’
t so bad.
”
I sighed and reached for the door. In all sarcasm, I said,
“
Being beaten against your will isn
’
t so bad? Well then, I do believe you
’
ve got yourself a happy ending, Everlae.
I
’
ll go find my own, elsewhere.
”
In my bedroom, I grabbed the first article of newspaper I found and took it with me. I told the maid to watch Ever in case she did something stupid and I left. Mother was wherever with whomever and Father was in Siphon
’
s City, sitting in his
throne
room writing decrees that ruined people
’
s lives. Isobeli would be back tomorrow for good, and the gods knew I had so much to tell her.
I told the guards I was going to sit out front in the garden and once I
’
d gone so far down the hill that they could no longer see me, I vanished into the woods, checking back every so often to make sure no one followed. Noah was gone for the day as well; he
had left
to get fitted for his suit. T
oday was perfect, Everlae and her problem
’
s momentarily forgotten.
I stepped into the clearing and the roaring river surged with life, morning nightingales sung.
I lost myself in the view and forgot my reason for being here
until I saw him sitting over on the boulder, staring out at the waters.
“
You came,
”
I said.
He turned to face me and his
amethyst
eyes shone.
“
I
’
m many things, Echo, and I can be a liar. Just not with you.
”
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as I scrambled for words.
“
Oh.
”
Oh? That
’
s all I had good to say? I tried again.
“
Well, I
’
ve brought you something.
”
I walked to him and handed him the newspaper. He glanced from me to the article and frowned.
“
I cannot—
”
“
Read, I know,
”
I cut in. I moved to the boulder and sat. I patted the space beside me and smiled at him.
“
Today
’
s your first lesson, Ayden Grey. Grab a seat.
”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
“
This is a joke?
”
“
I
’
m many things, Ayden, and I can be a jokester. Just not with you.
”
He laughed at my mockery
of him
and
moved to sit beside me
. I leaned in closer to him and our arms touched.
“
Do you know any of the letters?
”
He shook his head.
“
What about the song? You kno
w, the one they teach us in
the
first
form?
”
He shook his head again and I bit my lips.
“
Okay.
”
I
set the paper to the side and took his hands in mine.
“
Is this how they taught you?
”
he asked, staring at our joined hands.
I giggled and shook my head.
“
No. It
’
s a game my cousin taught me years ago. It
’
s an easy way to learn. Just follow my lead and repeat after me, okay?
”
He nodded with a smile on his face that made his eyes shine even brighter. His hands in mine felt warm and safe, and if I had
had
the choice, I
would
’
ve
never let them go. I sung,
“
A is for apples. B is for balance.
”
I stopped as he started to laugh, and his hands slipped from mine. I wanted to be angry, but hi
s laugh was contagious.
“
I know.
It
’
s silly, but I
’
m dete
rmined to teach you, so come on
.
”
He stopped laughing and looked at me.
“
Alright. I
’
ll sing.
”
He took my hands again and this time entwined his fingers with mine. I noted how perfectly our hands looked together. I glanced up and saw that he was watching our hands, too. We both smiled awkwardly and I sang again.
“
A is for apples.
”
“
A is for apples,
”
he sung, a beautiful deep octave.
“
B is for balance. C is for coats, the cats, and
the
cattle.
”
He sung, smiling brightly at me. We got through
most of
the song, but
neither of us could keep a straight face for long
.
“
S is for sweets,
”
I sang.
“
S is for sweets,
”
he mocked, doing his best to sound like me. I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth so that I didn
’
t snort.
“
I do not sound like that.
”
I playfully shoved his shoulder and he smiled.
“
You
’
re right. Yo
u sing beautifully.
”
The smile fell from my lips slowly and I said,
“
Thank you. As do you.
”
It was then that I noticed our proximity and how close our bodies really were.
He noticed too, and took my hand in his. My eyes never left his when he sang,
“
E is for Echo.
”
I grinned and wrapped my fingers around his. E was actually for elephants, but his version was so much better.